Fisher: FSU still has a lot to play for

Wednesday

Oct 11, 2017 at 7:19 PMOct 11, 2017 at 7:19 PM

DUSTIN KENT News Herald Assistant Sports Editor @PCNHDustinKent

Last season, Florida State’s third loss came in its eighth game with a 37-34 defeat at the hands of eventual national champion Clemson. The Seminoles responded by winning their next five games culminating in a 33-32 Orange Bowl victory over Michigan.

At 1-3 and with starting quarterback Deondre Francois lost for the season to injury, that kind of ending to the 2017 season seems far less likely, though coach Jimbo Fisher said at Wednesday’s ACC Football Media Conference that the Seminoles (0-2 in ACC play) are showing no signs of being ready to give up on the season.

“We’ve had great practices. Our practices have not tailed off one bit,” he said. “We’ve practiced our tails off. We’ve been competing, getting after it; attitude has been great. They understand the things that have to go on. They also understand they’ve got a ton to play for. Individually, they’ve got tons to play for. When you play well individually, it makes you play well as a team. They’ve done a great job and our leadership has done a great job of speaking up to that.”

Fisher said he hasn’t been shy about pointing out last year’s finish to the season to inspire belief in this year’s group to be able to do it again. However, he said the immediate focus should be on the process of getting better day to day and week to week.

“You reference everything you can,” he said. “Last year, as a reference point, it can be done, but you also have to realize you have to go back and do it. We have referenced things like that, but the whole key is don’t worry about what the season ends up and just make sure we have a good day at practice so you can play well this weekend against Duke and get back to the day-to-day process of it.”

The Seminoles’ most recent setback came in a 24-20 loss to rival Miami, the first win for the Hurricanes in the series since 2009. They’ll try to bounce back Saturday on the road against Duke (4-2 overall, 1-2 in the ACC) at 11 a.m. Central Time on ABC.

It’s difficult to place all of the blame for Florida State’s slow start on one specific unit. Poor special teams play was the primary culprit in the season-opening loss to Alabama, while the much-heralded defense gave up critical fourth-quarter touchdown drives in the losses to N.C. State and Miami.

The offense has come under the most scrutiny for averaging just 18.5 points per game and 22.3 per game in conference play. Freshman quarterback James Blackman has been solid and perhaps exceeded expectations in his first three career starts, averaging nearly 7 yards per pass attempt and leading the Seminoles on go-ahead touchdown drives in the fourth quarter against Wake Forest and Miami.

Blackman did throw a pair of interceptions against the Hurricanes, though he finished strong by leading the Seminoles to 17 points on their final three possessions. The FSU offense has nevertheless struggled to consistently generate offense, though Fisher said he believes he is seeing positive progress from his young signal-caller.

“He played a great fourth quarter (against Miami),” he said. “The last three times we touched the ball, we scored a touchdown, a field goal, and a touchdown. He had a big part in a lot of it, made big throws on third down and continued to do it.

“It’s a constant growing process for him. I think he’s getting better and better. The way he played in the (fourth) quarter, the magnitude of the game, the opponent and all the things that went on, I think he did take great steps.”

Fisher said the quality of defenses that the Seminoles have faced has something to do with the limited production of the offense and could pay dividends for the offense as the season progresses.

“I think we’ve gotten better,” he said. “I think we played a really good game offensively (against Miami). Missed a couple of opportunities, but scoring against them like that, I think we’ll be capable of continuing more. We’re very close to getting one or two more touchdowns in the game if we can continue to make one or two more plays.

“Our offense is progressing and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we played three or four really good defensive football teams.”

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